Former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Rick Fox believes Kobe Bryant will sign with the New York Knicks when he becomes a free agent.
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It seems difficult to believe that Kobe Bryant could leave the Los Angeles Lakers though not for former teammate Rick Fox.
During an interview with legendary broadcaster Larry King, Fox who spent parts of seven seasons alongside Bryant believes that the Black Mamba wants to play for a championship one more time and questions if he’ll be in position to do so with the Los Angeles Lakers. Given that Fox feels Kobe Bryant will depart Southern California and head for the Big Apple where he’ll join Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks as a free agent.
“If there is not a real opportunity for [Bryant] to win a championship there, the thought of him leaving may shock Lakers fans,” Fox said. “But I wouldn’t put it past him going in search of one or two more championships. Personally, I think it’s going to get done in New York. I really do. I just believe in Phil. I’ve been around him. I know Kobe has had his greatest success with Phil in a leadership capacity. So the reuniting of the two is not an unrealistic thought.”
There have been looming suggestions of Kobe Bryant eventually leaving the Lakers to join the New York Knicks ever since Phil Jackson took over the president of basketball operations role. Still, as great as Kobe Bryant has been and continues to be, are the Knicks really going to entertain the idea of signing Bryant to anything but a mid-level exception type deal when he does become a free agent?
Kobe’s current deal ends after the 2015-16 season and perhaps the Black Mamba would be willing to take a small salary in hopes of playing for a ring alongside fellow big name talent like Carmelo Anthony. Still, it seems like a long shot though Fox, who has covered the Lakers since retiring does have some merit.
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